Container filling and material settling machine



Jan. 8, 1952 Q R, HOWARD 2,581,795

CONTAINER FILLING AND MATERIAL SETTLING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1947 4 sheets-sheet 1 BY y SAACLMLLM s. R. HOWARD 2,581,795

CONTAINER FILLING AND MATERIAL SETTLING MACHINE Jan. 8, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, 19x47 Jan- 8, 1952 v s. R. HOWARD f 2,581,795

CONTAINER FILLING AND MATERIAL SETTLING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. BYaw/y /i/owa'rc/ s. R. HOWARD 2,581,795

CONTAINER FILLING AND MATERIAL SETTLING MACHINE Jan. s, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 24, 1947 .40 INVENTOR.

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Afr-roe/yfy tion by a spacing block 40 secured to the underside of the bracket 34 by bolts 42. The outwardly extended ends of the straps 30 are secured to and arranged to support an elongated solid bar 44 from which the vertically extended straps 32 are supported. A s herein shown, the bar 44 is provided with upwardly extended blocks 46 which may be'welded or otherwise secured thereto, and, the straps 32 are secured at their lower ends in spaced relation to the blocks 46 byv through bolts 48. The upper endsloflthe straps will form a part of and be driven from the filling machine. A spring i06 connected between the arm |04 and an angle bar |08 is provided to hold the cam roll |02 against the cam 98. Thus, in the operation of the machine, the flexibly mounted members 82 are rocked into yielding engagement with the containers, from the position shown in Fig. l to the position shown in Fig. 2, to urge and hold the containers in operative engagement with the vibratory bar 24 for a predetermined time in each cycle of operation of `32 are connected to opposite sides of an elongated hollow bar 50'by bolts 52. The hollow bar V50 is arranged to support the vibratory Vbar j24and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bar 2'4V i s carried'` by a bracket 54 which is provided with a plurality of slotted arms 5G adjustably secured to thehol'- low bar 50 by bolts 58. n n

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, provision is made for mechanically effecting-high frequency The shaft 60 y the filling machine and preferably during the vtime the material is being introduced into the containers. l

,Provision is made for positively holding the container out of engagement with the continuously vibrating-bar 24 during the time the filled k20 vibration of the vibratory unit through mechanin cal connections from an operating and rotating shaft 60 mounted in roller bearings 62 provided inY brackets 64 secured to the hollow bar 50. The

of the shaft. One disc 18 of each pair is keyed tolthe shaft, the other being adjustable with relation thereto. With this construction, the unbalanced rotation of the shaft effectsa vibratory `movement which by virtue of the flexible strap mounting of the, vibratory unit 22 isY transmitted to the vibratory bar 24. From the description thus far, it will be .ob-

served that the. vibratory bar 24 is continuouslyA vlbrated so that when thev containers being lled are urged thereagainst vibration of 'the containers and settling of the material may be effected. As illustrated in Fig. 2, provision is made. for urging the containers into engagement with the vibratory bar 24, and as herein shown, .a plurality of individual flexibly mounted members 82 are arranged to be rocked into engagement with the opposite sides of the containers.

The cooperating engagement of the bar 24 and the members 82 with the containers eiect gripping of the latter therebetween so as to effect a lateral shaking of the containers supported on the conveyor 20. As herein shown, each member 82 is carried in a grooved plate 84 which is sup.

members 84 which may be supported by angleA bars 96 attached to the machine frame. As .heref in shown, provision is made for. rocking the flexibly mounted member 82 into engagement `with the containers to urge them against the continuously vibrating bar 24 in timed Yrelation tothe operation of the filling machine, and as illustrated in Fig. 2, this is accomplished by a cam 98 fast on-a cam shaft |00, anda cooperating roller |02 carried by an arm |04 fast on the rocker shaft 92. The cam shaft |00 may and preferably containers are being delivered out of the machine and a new set of containers is being advanced into operative position to be lled. As illustrated in Fig. 1, in practice the containers are guided between relatively narrow railsV H0, H2, the for-- ward rail H0 being discontinued for the space occupied by the vibratory bar 24. L1 itsrstead a laterally movable elongated rail I4 is provided which is arranged to be'moved' into engagement with the containers to hold them away from the effective range of thevibratory bar 24 during the container moving cycle of operation and, tol

be retracted during the filling cycle of operation to permit the containers to be urged into engagement with the bar 24 during this time. As herein shown, the rail H4 is Lsupported on blocks H0 carried by pins H8 slidably mounted infV extensions |20 from the side rails 26, 28. H8 is urged to present the rail H4 into engagement withv the containers'rduring the container moving cycle by a spring |22 interposed between an extension |20 and a collar |24 fixed on the pin H8, as shown in Fig.` 4, the-containers at this time being guided between the rail H4 and the rear rail H2. The hub of the supporting block HB may be extended to engage an extension |20 and serve as a limiting stop.

Provision is made for moving' the rail H4 outwardly during the filling cycle of operation and as' herein shown the pins H8 are extended and arranged to be engaged by yscrews |26 carried by arms |28 fast on the rocker shaft 92. Thus,

in operation, when the rocker shaft 92 is operated'r to urge the members 82 into engagement with the containers, the arms |28 are rocked to effect movement of the rail H4 away from the containers to permit the latter to be moved into engagement with the vibratory bar 24, as above described. Conversely, when the shaft 92 is rocked to remove the members 82 from engagement with the containers, the rail H4 isl permitted to move the containers away from the bar 24 so that the containers are free from vibration during the container moving cycle of operation.

From the above description it will be observed that the present mechanically operated vibratory unit is effective to shake the containers laterally by a bhigh frequency vibration while the containers are supported on the conveyer during the lling operation whereby to gradually and progressively settle the material as it is being introduced to the end that a predetermined volume of material being deposited into the containers in its loose and flowable state is reduced or com-V pacted to substantially ll 4the container thus producing a filled container, the contents of which are not liable to be further compacted during Each pin acarreaV vibratory unit V2i? isl lsupported by tvmpairs ofv spaced apartand horiaontally1 extended thin flexibleistraps 30 disposedat the endsof the. elongated vibratoryunit, and' by two pairs of similar vertically extended straps 32y alsodisposed at the ends of then-nit andi-preferably beyond `the horizontally extended straps, the strapsv being arranged in 4parallel relation so that Ytheir `free: ends moveinaparallel path to thus convert-the unbalanced rotary forces into substantially straight line movement. It will'. be further observed that thefentire kweight ofthe vibratory unit 22 is-,supported from the frame. bythe horizontal spring metal. straps 30 extending from the underside of theconveyer frame and attached at their free ends to a. relatively heavy Weightedba-r 44,. and, tlfuavertieal` strapsy 32 extending from the Weighted bar are attached .at their. free ends to a relatively light weight hollow bar 5U. As a result oi this construction, thel vertical vibratory components are substantially entirely absorbed or dampc-idV out bytheheavy mass on the horizontally extending straps 39, the vertical components of the unbalanced. rotary' forces being .dissipated yby thev acceleration of the moving structure in accordance with the principle that for a given acceleration the distancetraveled' is inversely proportional to the mass. As a-further result, the reacting forces transmitted tothe xed ends of the horizontal strapsg are greatly reduced :so as to minimize vibration oi? the supporting framework and consequentl-y protecting'the sensitive weighing mechanism, supported by the frame, from the effects of the vibration. Thus, in operation, a maximum horizontal or lateral movement of the vibratory bar 24' and shaking of' the container is effected by the unbalanced rotation of the shaft 6d transmitted to the vbratory'bar 24 through the movement of the upper or free ends of the vertical supporting straps 32. As illustrated in Fig. one pair of the substantially semi-circular discs 78, I8U is disposed at Aeach extreme end of the rotary shaft Ell, one of the discs of each pair being adjustable with relation to the other whereby the discs lmay lbe adjusted to produce most efficient results. In practice the discs 80 of each pair are preferablyadjusted with relation to the fixed discs 'I8 in the same relative angular position so that one pair will be substantially in alignmentwith the other, thus providing a substantially equal unbalanced effect at both ends. The frequency of the vibrations depends upon the number of revolutions of the shaft lill and the extent of the vibratorymovement may vbe yvaried by adjustment of the rotary discs. different materials may require different frequencies of vibration, and. this may be accomplished in the illustrated structure by changing the rotary speed of the continuously rotating unbalanced member and by changing the adjust- In practice,

ment' ofthe discs Busto vary the: intensity Hoifcnsce and; to fcompensatefor the change in. rotary speed in accordance with the principle. that the. cen.-

trifugal force varies as.' thesquare of the rotaryV speed. In the illustrated embodiment of the.

invention, for example, a frequency of betweenv 1.750 andv 19.00 vibrations per minute may be maintained and Vthe extent of lateral vibrationv may be varied. between ,-16 and 1/8 of an inch. In practicev the vibratory bar 2li. and also the cooperating exibly mounted members 82 may and. preferably will be made of rubber or otherv yieldable and sound absorbent material in order that the containers will: not be marked or otherwise injured and'in. order to. reduce noise to a minimum.'

Whilexthe preferred embodiment of. the invention has been herein illustrated and describedit will be' understoodl that the inventionv may be' embodied in othery forms within the scope o thel following claims;

HavingV thus described the invention, whatv is claimed is:

1. In a packaging machine, in combination,

container lling means for ysimultaneously filling a plurality of containers, va conveyor for supporting. and advancing aline of containers into and out of operative position to be iilled, meansv for vibrating the containers during the filling operation to effect settling of the material as it is deposited therein, said vibratingmeanscomprising an elongated continuously Yoperated vibratory bar arranged to engage onezside of the con.- tainers being filled, means fork supporting said a. bar. including a flexible mounting, an unbalanced rotary member carried by said flexible mounting for imparting high frequency vibration to said bar, a plurality of cooperating flexibly mounted members engageable with the opposite sides of the container for rmly clamping the same to said bar whereby to effect shaking of the containers in unison therewith, and means operating in timed relation to the operation of the lling means for moving said cooperating flexibly mounted members into and out of clamping engagement with the'containers.

2'. In a packaging machine, in combination, container lling means for simultaneously filling ai plurality of containers, a conveyer for supporting andv advancing a line of containers into and out of operative position to be filled, means for vibrating the containers during the filling operation to eiiect settling of the material as it is deposited therein, said vibrating means comprising an elongated continuously operated vibrator-ybar arranged to engage one side of the containers being filled, means for supporting said bar including a flexible mounting, an unbalanced rotary member carried by said iiexible mounting for imparting high frequency vibration to said bar, a plurality of cooperating flexibly mounted members engageable with the opposite sides of the container for rmly clamping the same to said bar whereby to effect shaking of the containers in unison therewith, and means operating Iin timed relation to the operation of the filling means forv moving said cooperating flexibly mounted members into and out of'clamping engagement with the containers, and a movable guide rail operative to maintain the line of containers out of the effective range of said continuously operating vibratory bar during the container moving cycle of operation.

3. In a packaging machine, in combination, means for supporting the container, means for 7. settling the contents of a, container comprising a vibratory member engageable with the container, exible means for supporting said vibratory member comprising a pair of spaced horizontally extended and relatively thin parallel straps xedly supported at one end, and a pair of similar vertically extended straps connected at one end to the free ends of said horizontally extended straps, said vibratory member being connected to the free ends of said vertically extended straps, and a cooperating resiliently mounted member also engageable with the container during the settling operation.

4. In a packaging machine, in combination, means for supporting the container, means for settling the contents of a container comprising a vibratory member engageable with the container, flexible means for supporting said vibratory member comprising a pair of spaced horizontally extended and relatively thin parallel straps fixedly supported at one end, and a pair of similar Vertically extended straps connected at one end to the free ends of said horizontally extended straps,V

said vibratory member being connected to the free ends of said vertically extended straps, and means for firmly clamping the container to said vibratory member whereby to effect shaking of the container in unison therewith.

5. In a packaging machine, in combination, means for supporting the container, means for settling the contents of a container comprising a vibratory member engageable with said container, means for imparting vibration to said member including an unbalanced rotary member operatively connected thereto, means for said vibratory member comprising a pair of spaced horizontally extended and relatively thin parallel straps xedly supported at one end, a pair of similar vertically extended straps connected at one end to the free ends of saidhorizontally extended straps, said vibratory member being connected to the free ends of said vertically extended straps, and means for firmly clamping the container to said vibratory member whereby to effect shaking of the container in unison with said vibratory member.

6. In a packaging machine, in combination, means for supporting the container, means for settling the contents of' a container comprising a vibratory member engageable with said container, means for imparting vibration to said member including an unbalanced rotary member operatively connected thereto, flexible supporting means for said vibratory member comprising a pair of spaced horizontally extended and relatively thin parallel straps xedly supported at one end, a pair of similar vertically extended straps connected at one end to the free 'ends of said horizontally extended straps, said flexible supporting 7. In a packaging machine, in combination, lling mechanism, container supporting means for supporting a container while being filled, a vibratory unit for settling the contents of a container during the iilling operation comprising a vibratory bar engageable with the container, an unbalanced rotary member carried by said bar, and means for converting the rotary force imparted by said unbalanced rotary member into rectilinear motion comprising a flexible mounting for said unit including a pair of spaced horizontally extended and relatively thin parallel straps xedly supported at one end, a pair of similar vertically extended straps connected at their lower ends to the free ends of said horizontally extended straps, the free ends of said vertically extended straps being connected to said vibratory unit, and a weighted member also carried by the free ends of said horizontally connected straps whereby to effectively dampen the vertical components of said unbalanced rotary force and to provide a maximum horizontal rectilinear movement to said vibratory bar.

8. In a packaging machine, in combination, container f illing means, means for supporting a container in operative position to be filled, and means for vibrating the container during the filling operation to effect settling of the material as it is deposited therein comprising a vibratory member engageable with the container, means for supporting said vibratory member including spaced vertically disposed thin iiexible metal supporting members and a flexible mounting therefor, means for vibrating the vibratory member in a substantially horizontal plane, and cooperating means for firmly clamping the container to said vibratory member whereby to effect shaking of the container in unison with said vibratory means while supported on said supporting means.

9. In a packaging machine, in combination, container filling means, means for supporting a container in operative position to be iilled, and means for vibrating the container during the filling operation to eiiect settling of the material as it is deposited therein comprising a vibratory member engageable with the container, means for supporting said vibratory member including spaced vertically disposed thin flexible metal supporting members and a flexible mounting therefor, an unbalanced rotary member supported by said flexible mounting for imparting high frequency vibration to said vibratory member, and a cooperating flexibly mounted member engageable With the container for firmly clamping the same to said vibratory member whereby to effect shaking of the container in unison therewith.

STANLEY R. HOWARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 767,590 Nickerson Aug. 16, 1904 1,340,200 Alexander May 18, 1920 1,413,338 Lawrence Apr. 18, 1922 1,753,412 Harris Apr. 8, 1930 2,312,288 Schmutzer et al. Feb. 23, 1943 

